Cambodian PM Defends Australia Refugee Deal

Ron Corben BANGKOK— Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is trying to ease concerns over the social and economic costs of the country’s plan with Australia to receive refugees. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has called for the deal to be halted until Cambodia improves its refugee support system. Hun Sen spoke out in defense of the refugee resettlement program in a letter he wrote last week to opposition politician Kem Sokha, the National Assembly’s first deputy president. Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Post newspaper published details of the letter Monday, reporting the prime minister defended Cambodia’s ability to host the refugees, saying some 85 asylum seekers…